Try a Little Tenderness: Otis Redding’s “Dictionary of Soul” Expanded On CD and LP
Otis Redding famously ran the gamut of soul from A to Z on his 1966 album Complete and Unbelievable…The Otis Redding Dictionary of Soul. Well, now the dictionary is getting even more complete on October 7 with Rhino’s release of a 50th anniversary edition! This 2-CD deluxe edition features both the stereo and mono mixes of the original album plus eight bonus tracks.
The 1966 album, Redding’s fifth album, was cut in the summer of 1966 at Stax Studios in Memphis. Redding was joined by Isaac Hayes as well as The Memphis Horns for a storming set including such stone-cold classics as “Try a Little Tenderness” and “Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa (Sad Song)” as well as a soulful reinvention of The Beatles’ “Day Tripper.” Upon its release, Dictionary of Soul made it all the way to No. 5 on the U.S. R&B chart. Tragically, this seminal record became the last solo studio album of Otis Redding’s to see release in his lifetime.
In addition to the stereo and mono versions of the album (remastered per the label from Ian Sefchick’s vinyl masters) tracks, the deluxe edition features several studio outtakes in mono such as “Trick or Treat” and “Loving By The Pound,” plus an epic, nearly-seven-minute version of “Try A Little Tenderness” that was recorded live in 1967 during the Stax/Volt Revue’s European tour.
Complete and Unbelievable: Dictionary of Soul will also be released on October 7 as a digital download and a double 180-gram vinyl set. The 2-LP iteration will come with a bonus 7-inch single of “Try a Little Tenderness” b/w “I’m Sick Y’all.” This slice of gutbucket Stax soul isn’t yet available for pre-order, but links will be added as soon as they are active. Watch this space!
Otis Redding, Complete and Unbelievable: The Otis Redding Dictionary of Soul – 50th Anniversary Edition (Volt 415/S 415, 1966 – reissued Rhino, 2016) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. TBD)
CD 1: Original Album in Mono plus bonus tracks
- “Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa (Sad Song)”
- “I’m Sick Y’all”
- “Tennessee Waltz”
- “Sweet Lorene”
- “Try A Little Tenderness”
- “Day Tripper”
- “My Lover’s Prayer”
- “She Put The Hurt On Me”
- “Ton Of Joy”
- “You’re Still My Baby”
- “Hawg For You”
- “Love Have Mercy”
- “Don’t Mess With Cupid” (Mono) (Bonus Track)
- “Trick Or Treat” (Mono) (Bonus Track)
- “Loving By The Pound” (Mono) (Bonus Track)
- “You Left The Water Running” (Mono) (Bonus Track)
- “Try A Little Tenderness” (Take 1, Stereo) (Bonus Track)
CD 2: Original Album in Stereo plus bonus tracks
- “Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa (Sad Song)”
- “I’m Sick Y’all”
- “Tennessee Waltz”
- “Sweet Lorene”
- “Try A Little Tenderness”
- “Day Tripper”
- “My Lover’s Prayer”
- “She Put The Hurt On Me”
- “Ton Of Joy”
- “You’re Still My Baby”
- “Hawg For You”
- “Love Have Mercy”
- “Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa (Sad Song)” (Stereo) (Bonus Track)
- “Day Tripper” (Stereo) (Bonus Track)
- “Try A Little Tenderness” (Live) (Stereo) (Bonus Track)
Otis Redding, Complete and Unbelievable: The Otis Redding Dictionary of Soul – 50th Anniversary Edition (Volt 415/S 415, 1966 – reissued Rhino, 2016) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. TBD)
LP 1 (Mono) & LP 2 (Stereo)
- “Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa (Sad Song)”
- “I’m Sick Y’all”
- “Tennessee Waltz”
- “Sweet Lorene”
- “Try A Little Tenderness”
- “Day Tripper”
- “My Lover’s Prayer”
- “She Put The Hurt On Me”
- “Ton Of Joy”
- “You’re Still My Baby”
- “Hawg For You”
- “Love Have Mercy”
Vinyl Bonus: 7-Inch Single
- “Try A Little Tenderness”
- “I’m Sick Y’All”
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3 thoughts on “Try a Little Tenderness: Otis Redding’s “Dictionary of Soul” Expanded On CD and LP”
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Im in!
Definitely go for the CD
Despite the notation that these CDs were Ian Sefchick’s remasters – whoever Ian Sefchick may be – the CD lists Scott Levitin at WEA as being responsible for remastering. The remasters are not that impressive – very thin – especially when compared to the fantastic job Joe Tarantino did with the tracks on Concord/Stax’s ” Lonely and Blue” CD.